E 631 
. P68 
Copy 1 U. S. SANITARY COMMISSION. 



PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS OF THE ASSOCIATES IN 
PHILADELPHIA IN RELATION TO THE REORGANIZA- 
TION OP THE ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT. 



At a meeting of Associates of the Sanitary Commission in 
Philadelphia, held the 18th inst., the subjoined Preamble and 
Eesolutions were adopted; 

Morton M'MichaTel, Hon. J. I. Clark Hare, Dr. John 
H. B. M'Clellan, Dr. F. G. Smith, John Welsh, and Dr. 
Alfred Stille being appointed the Committee under the sixth 
resolution. 

Whereas, the strength of an army depends, first, upon the 
health of its soldiers, since the loss of health must overcome all 
other sources of strength, in the disability involved in sickness 
and death ; and 

Whereas, the amount of disease and death in any army may 
be greatly reduced by a proper attention to preventive sanitary 
care in the management of soldiers when on duty, as well as 
when sick and wounded; and 

Whereas, thi measures necessary for this saving of life and 
health in our army have, not been, and cannot be, successfully 
administered by the United States Army medical department, 
under the organization which was considered sufficient for the 
service on its former limited scale, and during a period of com- 
parative inaction ; but can only be rendered effective through 
the administration of a medical staff and corps commensurate 
in extent and character with the vast development of the ex- 
isting military force of the nation. Therefore 

1. Resolved^ That inasmuch as our soldiers are entitled, on every 
account of sound policy and justice, not less than in considera- 






tion of their being our fellow-citizens, friends, and relations, to 
the very best care that can be afforded them in health, and to the 
kindest and most skilful attention when disabled by disease or 
■wounds, we regard the attempt to reorganize the medical de- 
partment of our army on a larger and more efficient basis, with 
great satisfaction, as a welcome movement in behalf of all who 
are engaged in the cause of our country. 

2. Resolved^ That an organization is imperatively needed, which, 
in addition to the proper regulation of a well selected corps of 
surgeons and assistant surgeons, shall, first, elevate the military 
rank of the superior medical officers, and thereby increase their 
influence in a manner due to the value of their services, and 
encouraging to their aspirations for promotion as military men ; 
secondl}'-, shall secure to the army an indispensable and hitherto 
much-needed hospital and sanitary administration, by providing 
for an adequate staff of hospital and camp inspectors of suit- 
able standing and authority; and, thirdly, which shall enable 
the proper authorities to fill these responsible ofnces with men 
of superior character and experience, whose appointment shall 
not be governed by the age of their commissions. 

3. Resolved, That the enactment of a law embodying such a sys- 
tem of reform in the character and operation of our army medi- 
cal department could not fail to have an encouraging effect upon 
the able and accomplished officers of which our army medical 
corps' is chiefly composed, and to attract a stnl larger number 
of desirable accessions to the junior grades from our civil hos- 
pitals and schools; while it would indirectly strengthen the 
confidence of all ranks of the army, and of the people generally, 
by dissipating apprehensions which the notorious amount of 
destitution and other needless suffering among the sick and 
wounded has very materially aroused. 

4. Resolved, That the bill which has been presented by Senator 
Wilson, the chairman of the Military Committee of the United 
States Senate, appears to us to be a movement in the right direc- 
tion ; and, as such, it is earnestly commended to the considera- 



tion of our Senators and Representatives in Congress, as well 
as to the attention of all who may be interested in the welfare 
of our army. 

5. Resolved^ That we view with gratification the evidence of 
interest in the subject which has been manifested by our fellow- 
associates and the members of the Sanitary Commission in New 
York and Boston^ and would cordially unite with them in 
urging the speedy passage of Senator Wilson's bill, with such 
modification as may be deemed advisable, as of great moment 
to- the moral and physical efficiency of our army, and to the 
economical prosecution of the war, as well as an act of duty 
and humanity to those who are risliing everything in the de- 
fence of our national existence and our homes. 

6. Resolved^ That a committee of five associates, with power to 
add to their number, be appointed to proceed to Washington 
with a copy of these preambles and resolutions, duly signed 
and attested, to be submitted to the chairmen of the Military 
Committees of the two Houses of Congress, to the Commander- 
in-chief, to the Secretary of War, and to the President of the 
United States ; and that said committee be requested to urge 
the passage of such a bill as that proposed by Senator Wilson 
upon our Senators and Representatives, to give any aid or 
counsel that may be proper in perfecting the plan which it 
suggests, and to take such other measures in furtherance of 
this object as they may deem advisable. 

7. Resolved^ That the members of the committee be requested 
to call the attention of those who may have the bill in charge 
to the necessity of requiring a thorough medical and general 
education in the officers who may fill the subordinate posts for 
which it provides, and to suggest the danger of any clause or 
provision which overlooks this necessity or fails to contemplate 
or provide for it. 

H. BiNNEY, Jr. 

Chairman. 
Attest: Edward Hartshorne, 

Secretary. 



The following is a copy of the bill alluded to in the foregoing 
resolutions: — 

"^n Act to provide for the Reorganization of the Medical Depart- 
ment of the ArmyT 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Eepresentatives, 
in Congress assembled, that the Medical Department of the 
Army shall be constituted as follows : — 

Section 1. There shall be one Director-General, who shall 
have the rank, pay, and emoluments of a brigadier-general, 
and who shall, as Chief of the Medical Corps, perform the 
duties now assigned to the Surgeon-General, and such others 
as may be required by law and regulation. There shall be 
one Sanitary Inspector-General, who shall have the rank, pay, 
and emoluments of a colonel of cavalry, and who shall, under 
the Director-General, have the general supervision of all that 
relates to the sanitary condition of the army, whether in quar- 
ters or in camps, and with the hygiene, police, discipline, and 
efficiency of field and general hospitals, under such regulations 
as may be hereafter established. 

There shall be eight Sanitary Inspectors, who shall have the 
rank, pay, and emoluments each of a lieutenant-colonel of 
cavalry, and who shall be charged with the duty of inspecting 
the sanitary condition of quarters and camps, of field and 
general hospitals, and who shall report to the Sanitary In- 
spector-General, under such regulations as may be hereafter 
established, all circumstances relating to the sanitary condition 
and wants of troops and of hospitals, and to the skill, efficiency, 
and good conduct of the officers and attendants connected with 
the Medical Department. 

There shall be not exceeding forty surgeons of the first 
class, who shall have the rank, pay, and emoluments each of a 
major of cavalry, and who shall ordinarily be assigned to staff, 
bureau, and hospital duties. 



There shall be not exceeding fifty surgeons of the second 
class, who shall have the rank, pay and emoluments each of a 
captain of cavalry, and shall ordinarily be assigned to duty 
with regiments. 

And there shall be not exceeding one hundred assistant 
surgeons, who shall have the rank, pay and emoluments each 
of a first lieutenant of cavalry, and who shall perform such 
duties as are now required of assistant surgeons. 

There shall be not exceeding one hundred medical cadets, 
who shall not be less than eighteen, nor more than twenty-three 
years of age at the time of entering, who shall be examined by 
p T5oard of Medical Officers, in such branches of medical and 
.mitary science as the Director General may order. After 
three years of continuous medical service, and on their produc- 
ing proper testimonials of character from the medical officers 
with whom they have served, they may be examined for pro- 
motion by a Board of Medical Officers of the army. They 
shall have the rank, pay and emoluments of the highest grade 
of non-commissioned officers of the army. 

There shall be as many hospital stewards as the exigencies 
of the service may require from time to time, to be designated 
by a sanitary inspector, on the recommendation of the senior 
surgeon of the post, division, regiment or military department 
where their services may be required, and they shall have the 
rank, pay and emoluments of first sergeants of cavalry. 

Section 2. Be it further enacted, that immediately after the 
passage of this act it shall be the duty of the President to select 
from the medical corps of the army suitable persons to fill the 
offices of Director-General, Sanitary Inspector-General and 
Sanitary Inspectors. Provided^ That no one shall be appointed 
to either of said positions who shall have attained the age of 
sixty years. 

Section 3. And be it further enacted, that promotion in the 
medical corps, up to the grade of surgeon of the first class in- 
clusive, shall be by seniority; but that the grades of Director- 



General, Sanitary Inspector-General and Sanitary Inspectors, 
shall be filled by selection from the whole corps, and by such 
officers as shall have shown their peculiar fitness for such 
positions. 

Section 4. And be it further enacted, that the surgeons of 
the first and second classes provided for by the first section of 
this act shall be appointed from the medical corps of the army 
as at present organized, and in accordance with the require- 
ments of section third of this act; and that the consequent 
vacancies in the grade of assistant surgeon shall be filled by 
appointment from civil life; Provided, That no one shall be 
appointed an assistant surgeon of the army, or promoted to the 
grade of surgeon of the first or second class, until he shall pre- 
viously have been examined by a board of army medical offi- 
cers, and found qualified, physically, morall}^, and in medical 
and sanitary attainments, for the office, and the adequate per- 
formance of its duties. 

Section 5. And be it further enacted, that so much of the 
act of as allows additional rations to surgeons and assistant 
surgeons upon the completion of ten years' service in their 
respective grades, be, and the same is hereby repealed. 

Section 6. And be it further enacted that every medical 
officer of the army, who has attained the age of sixty-five years, 
or on attaining that age, shall be retired from active service, 
and shall be entitled to receive the pay and emoluments allowed 
to officers of corresponding rank by the act of 1861. 

Section 7. And be it further enacted, that all acts, and parts 
of acts, inconsistent with the provisions of this act, be and the 
same are hereby repealed. 



LIST 



PHILADELPHIA ASSOCIATES 



U. S. SANITARY COMMISSION. 

January 22, 1862. 



Lewis R. Ashhiirst, 

Wm. H. Ashhurst, 

Jacob Alburger, 

D. H. Agnew, M. D., 

Matthew W. Baldwin, 

Rev. Albert Barnes, 

C. B. Barclay, 

Rev. Thomas Brainerd, D. D., 

W. Dwight Bell, 

John Bell, M. D., 

Horace Binney, Jr., 

Rev. H. A. Boardman, D. D., 

John A. Brown, 

Adolph E. Borie,- 

Joseph Carson, M. D., 

Henry C. Carey, 

John C. Cresson, 

Caleb Cope, 

Arthur G. Coffin, 

Stephen Colwell, 
James M. Corse, M. D., 
Mordecai L. Dawson, 
Rev. H. W. Ducachet, D. D., 
Rev. W. H. Furuess, D. D , 
Prof. J. F. Frazer, 
Frederick Fraley, 
Samuel D. Gross, M. D., 
B. Gerhard, 

Hon. J. I. Clark Hare, 
Charles Hartshorne, 
Edward Hartshorne, M. D., 
Isaac Hays, M. D., 
Alexander Henry, 
Rev. E. Huttor, 
Wilson Jewell, M. D., 
Rev. John Jenkins, 



Thomas Kimber, Jr., 

F. W. Lewis, M. D., 
Joseph Leidy, M. D., 
John L. Le Conte, M. D., 
Samuel Lewis, M. D., 

J. H. B. McClellan, M. D., 
Morton McMichael, 
J. Forsyth Meigs, M. D., 
S V. Merrick, 

E. Spencer Miller, 
Caspar Morris, M. D., 
Rev. H, J. Morton, D. D., 
Sketchley Morton, 

G. W. Norris, M. D. 
John H. Packard, M. D., 
Joseph Parrish, M. D., 

Rt. Rev. Alonzo Potter, D. D., 
Samuel Powel, 
William L. Rehn, 
Lewis Rodman, M. D., 
Evans Rogers, 
Fairman Rogers, 

A. Marshall Slocum, M. D., 

F. G. Smith, Jr., M. D., 
Charles J. Stille, 
Alfred Stille, M. D., 
Hon. William Strong, 
George H. Stuart, 
Thomas T. Tasker, 

B. T. Tredick, 
William M. Tilghman, 
John Edgar Thompson, 
John H. Towne, 
Lewis Wain, 

John Welsh, 
Ellis Yarnalh 



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